Politics Ranks Toward Bottom
Among Life's Influential Factors

By

Christina Duff Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Sept. 17, 1998 12:01 a.m. ET

JOLIET, Ill.-- In this blue-collar city, both political parties will spend the fall vying for the attention and affection of citizens like Carol Rapcan. They will have to take a number and stand in line.

Even as the presidential sex scandal fills the front pages, Ms. Rapcan says lots of things are more important to her life than national politics. At age 55, she devotes much energy to her three daughters.